Terminal-seal for storage batteries



M CONNELL SHANK TERMINAL SEAL FOR STORAGE BATTERIES,

Patented June 8, 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES MCCONNELL SHANK, OF AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. F. GOODRIGH COMPANY, 01? NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TERMINAL-SEAL FOR STORAGE BATTERIES.

Application filed February 10, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MoOoNNnLL SHANE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Terminal-Seal for Storage Batteries, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to storage batteries, and it has for its object to provide an improved means for sealing the apertures 1n the jar cover through which pass the terminals or binding posts connected with the battery plates. It is common practice to interpose a soft rubber gasket between the underside of the cover and a shoulder on the post, but a considerable problem is encountered in providing a satisfactory means for compressing this gasket to seal the oint. My present invention solves this problem in a simple and effective manner by the use of a wedge which, in the preferred form, occupies a transverse slot in the post and is held firmly in place by soldering it to the post. I

Of the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a storage battery cell provided with terminal jointsealing means constructed according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the upper part of the cell and one of the posts.

In'the drawings, 10 is the battery jar, 11 is the cover, and 12, 12 are the binding posts or terminals connected with the respective sets of plates 13, 14k and projecting through apertures 15 in said cover. Thickened annular portions, flanges, or shoulders 16, 17 surround each of the openings 15 on the upper and lower sides of the cover, and within the lower flange 17 is an annular recess forming a seat for the soft-rubber packing ring or gasket 18 which rests on a shoulder 19 formed on the post 12. The posts are preferably tapered upwardly in the usual manner as shown to receive the external leads or connectors, one of the posts 12 being shown with an axial thumb-screw for clamping a lead to the post, while the other has soldered or burned onto it one end of a connector 21 for connecting with a terminal of opposite sign on an adjacent battery cell.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 275,947.

Each post 12 is formed with a transverse slot 22 occupied by a wedge 23 whose ends rest upon the shoulder 16 of the cover 11, while its intermediate portion engages the upper side of the slot, said upper side being inclined from the horizontal at the same angle as the upper edge of the wedge. It will be evident that by driving the wedge into the slot the post 12 is raised or the cover depressed so as to compress the gasket 18 and seal the joint around said post against the escape of electrolyte. The wedge is made of any suitable material having a surface which will not be corroded by the battery liquid, being preferably made of or covered with lead. It may, for example, be composed of an inner plate of stiff metal provided with a lead covering, and the post is likewise made 01? or covered with lead in the usual manner. The wedge may, if desired. be originally longer than its ultimate length, and may be cut oil at its small end or both ends after being driven into place. When driven as far as desired into the slot, the wedge is secured in place with solder indicated at 2 1, which may either be melted from a bar or wire of solder, or it may be a part of the lead of the wedge or post, or both, melted by the usual burning operation. To release the wedge when desired, the solder can be melted or cut away and the wedge driven out.

I claim:

1. In a terminal seal for storage batteries, the combination of an apertured cell cover, a terminal post for a set of battery plates passing through the aperture in said cover and formed with a shoulder underneath the cover, a soft packing gasket interposed between said shoulder and the cover, and a transverse wedge engaging said post and cover for holding the gasket under compression.

2. In a terminal seal for storage batteries, the combination of an apertured cell cover, a terminal post for a set of battery plates passing through the aperture in said cover and formed with a shoulder underneath the cover, a soft packing gasket interposed between said shoulder and the cover, and a wedge occupying a transverse slot in the post for holding said gasket under compression.

3. In a terminal seal for storage batteries, the combination of an apertured cell cover, a post extending through the aperture in said cover, a sealing gasket interposed between the loWer side of said cover and a shoulder on the post, and a Wedge occupying a transverse slot in the post and soldered thereto with its two ends overlying the upper side of the cover for holding said gasket under compression. 10

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, 1919.

MGCONNELL SHANK. 

